After issuing a
proclamation to quiet the fears of the people, the Commissioners made their
way to Jamestown. Here was found the indomitable Berkeley and his Council
in a state of active preparation, cannon trained. But, when all was said,
the Commissioners had brought wisely moderate terms: submit because submit
they must, acknowledge the Commonwealth, and, that done, rest unmolested!
If resistance continued, there were enough Parliament men in Virginia to
make an army. Indentured servants and slaves should receive freedom in
exchange for support to the Commonwealth. The ships would come up from
Point Comfort, and a determined war would be on. What Sir William Berkeley
personally said has not survived. But after consultation upon consultation
Virginia surrendered to the commonwealth.
Berkeley stepped from the Governor's chair, retiring in wrath and
bitterness of heart to his house at Greenspring. In his place sat Richard
Bennett, one of the Commissioners. Claiborne was made Secretary. King's men
went out of office; Parliament men came in. But there was no persecution.
In the bland and wide Virginia air minds failed to come into hard and
frequent collision. For all the ferocities of the statute books, acute
suffering for difference of opinion, whether political or religious, did
not bulk large in the life of early Virginia.
The Commissioners, after the reduction of Virginia, had a like part to play
with Maryland. At St. Mary's, as at Jamestown, they demanded and at length
received submission to the Commonwealth.
Pages:
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132